Happy St. George’s Day

St George, patron saint of England.

The start of my flock

I had an unexpected day out in Wensleydale the other day which resulted in some intentional cheese buying and some accidental yarn buying. Yes, we had to go home via the Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Shop where I came away with this

It is part of my therapy as I realised I have a lot of dark colors so I felt I needed some fresher, Springlike colors to stave off attacks of gloom. They also have a lot of kits for hats, scarves, tea cosies and the like and I saw a kit that I simply couldn’t leave behind. As I am being a bit of a flibbertigibbet at the moment and cannot concentrate for more than a split second at a time I decided to knit something more achievable than a cardigan. So I am proud to introduce Mrs. Winifred Wensleydale, the founder member of my flock!

More finishes

I seem to create like mad and not get anything finished…..except I do seem to finish things, but all at once! This past year hasn’t been so good in the health stakes which has hampered progress. Here’s my latest offerings.

Sparkly Hetty – I had the idea of making this for Christmas wear but didn’t get it finished until February thanks to yet more illness. I am not too sure about it but I am sure once a party or Christmas comes along then it will get plenty of wear!

I also treated myself to some lovely handpainted rainbow yarn,

which I turned into a shawl/neck scarf. I am pleased with how this has turned out, it’s so…well….rainbowy and I do like a rainbow

I don’t know what I shall use the second ball for, although I am leaning towards a hat…..maybe…..

Hetty

I finished this weeks ago but thanks to ear infections, Ofsted, absolute exhaustion and sheer inertia I have only just got around to updating this blog (how do people manage to do this daily????)

So here is Hetty, knitted with long sleeves because it’s winter and short or 3/4 sleeves just don’t cut the mustard at this time of year. Yarn used is Sirdar Balmoral in Royal Purple, pattern is Striped Hetty from The Second Sublime Double Knitting Book and the photographer (me) needs to be shot!

 

I have had so many compliments on this when I’ve worn it that I am very tempted to knit another. I have some yarn lurking in a cupboard that would do very nicely. Actually I have several possible yarns so I may even do a 3/4 sleeved one for the summer…..

Hats

I have taken the plunge (with occasional wonderings at my wisdom) and signed up for Woolly Wormhead’s Mystery Hat Knit-A-Long, which began today http://www.woollywormhead.com/blog/ (sorry I can’t do fancy one word clicky links and nobody seems willing to tell me how, in spite of my asking again and again!) I am all set up and ready to cast on, except I am waiting for my long cable to arrive, posted today so hopefully tomorrow will the The Day! I am using some thickish sock yarn from Willo Alpacas, a company local to me who sell at shows and farmer’s markets http://www.willoalpacas.com/ It is purple with silver sparkles in and I hope it’s ok. Being lazy I am not knitting a swatch, because the hat will always fit somebody so it can be a gift if it isn’t right for me.

Hurry up Postman, I want to get going on the first installment!!

Baking

Today I made my annual batch of
butteries. I usually make them near Christmas but with visitors and not finishing until 21st December I thought I’d get ahead.

I’m back!

After a discussion on twitter with the lovely Helen I am attempting to revive this blog (again). So you will be subjected to more witterings on and random mind vomit. Sorry, but blame Helen who said she would love to read it all! I won’t subject you to a blow by blow account of my doings since my last post in June, I shall start afresh from now. It is half term – a week too late, we at work are all shattered and with no tolerance levels left at all. I have nothing planned for a week, except a visit to the doctor to demand pain relief that actually works thank you. Oh and my mum wants me to go to York with her. On pay day. She’s buying lunch. See you there!!!

 

Here’s the obligatory photo – my latest finish: The Fisherman’s Cap from the design by Woolly Wormhead. We have very cold (overnight minus temps) forecast for the weekend so it might even get some wear.